Maple Leafs Full Media Availability | Post Game vs Buffalo Sabres | October 25, 2025

Maple Leafs Full Media Availability | Post Game vs Buffalo Sabres | October 25, 2025

Couple points down, a couple key guys. Yeah, just grind, grind away, stay in it. Um, there’s ups and downs through the game, but I liked our process. Um, you know, kept fighting back and, uh, Johnny scoring an OT there, those two points. It was great. 499 for him. Like, what do you appreciate most about the way he goes about his business? Yeah, it’s uh, he certainly made me a lot better pro. Um, just being around him, um, watching him, how he goes through his process, uh, it’s quite impressive. Um, I know we always talk about it, but um, you know, I just Mr. Steady every every single year. And to have that in your room as a leader, um, is super crucial for our team. And, uh, we certainly don’t take it for granted. And, you know, not even just 499, but I think one of four people to have two or uh, 500 career points with two different teams. Um, it’s pretty amazing company that he’s, uh, he’s sharing there. So, uh, welld deserved and, um, you know, it’s all credit to him because he works his ass off for it. Your first period, big hit, big fight. How important is the physical side of the game, not just for you, but for the team? Yeah, I think it’s been a little lacking here this first little while. Um, I’m certainly guilty of it too through the first, you know, five, six games. Um, you know, I think at the beginning of the year sometimes you kind of dip your toe in the water rather than jumping full full in. and made it a mission here the last couple nights to uh you know bring that side of my game out a little bit more. Um because I certainly play better and I I know uh my teammates feed off it as well. So just try to bring that emotion and energy and competitiveness and um you know something that we need when you’re when you’re um not collecting points. Are you thinking possible scrap right away when you throw like that? Yeah, typically you’re always kind of looking around. Um my record against uh Buffalo hasn’t been great since I’ve left them. So I was uh eager for two points tonight. Yeah. Uh you know before that I tried tried to make a play oneonone play and unfortunately didn’t work out and just tried to get back as hard as I could and um really good defensive play. I can’t even tell you who was back there for us, but uh really good defensive play and you know P standing tall and then um great look by Nisy. Um it wasn’t an easy window. So he uh put in a good spot easy for me to kind of corral it and lead me uh with the momentum that I had and uh just was able to kind of take my time with it and hit my spot. So great to see it go in and get back on the winning side of it. K was just telling us he’s made it his mission the last couple games to up his physical play. What have you seen from him? How he’s influencing you guys right now? Yeah, he brings a lot of emotion uh and certainly physicality, no question. I mean, he’s got a great all-around game, but you know, whether it’s blocking shots, uh taking the body, you know, just kind of lays it all on the line, you know, he’s a heart and soul type of player. So, um brought great emotion uh last couple days and certainly saw it here tonight and uh you know, critical uh you know, area for for us really for any team and um you know, great job by him tonight. Led in so many different areas. Robertson scores. Joshua scores. Do you kind of feel like maybe you’re turning the corner here and everybody’s contributing the way you kind of want? Yeah, we just want to play solid team hockey and we we want and we need everyone to contribute in all areas of the game. So, you know, didn’t go our way last night and still some things we clearly had to clean up uh even after tonight, but we felt some things were trending better direction after yesterday’s game and just wanted to stay with it and you know, wasn’t pretty today by any means, but uh you just got to grind it out and find a way. Big goal by DJ and yeah, great to see Robbie get on the board, get rewarded. Uh was tenacious all night on the puck. So, um you know, good signs for us and obviously much needed two points. Any chance you’ll be sneaking into the dome tonight? I think so. I think so. So, yeah. Go Jays. Yeah. What was it like to to get off the ice last night and see what they had done? Yeah, it uh you know after uh after a loss it’s um it’s always pretty quiet on the bus, but uh I’m not going to lie, when Barger hit that grand slam, it was uh you know there was there was some good banter going on and guys are pretty excited. Have you seen Joe Wall? What’s your thoughts about him coming back? Yeah, we’re really happy uh Joe’s rejoining in the group. We’ve really missed him, not just on the ice and in in net, but uh certainly uh as part of our team and uh obviously been here for a number of years and love him as a guy. Um big part of the group and his personality and um the competitiveness he brings. I think the attention to detail he brings on on his game and and all those sorts of things. I haven’t seen him yet, but looking forward to having him uh back here. So, um we’ve missed him. On that note, what do you think of Caden tonight? He was awesome. I think uh he’s just came in and worked every day and just tried to be uh as ready as he can be for his opportunity and you know gave us a chance to win the night, make some big saves and you know just doesn’t really get shaken. I think something goes in or something maybe doesn’t go uh his way or I way our way. He just kind of gets ready for that next opportunity, that next shot and uh really poised back there. So um hell of a job by him. Close calls this season. What did it feel like to see one go in tonight? Oh yeah, it was great. Uh, I think it it was good to get my confidence up and obviously getting one. Um, you know, it feels really good. How do you feel about your role tonight playing with Austin? Uh, it felt a little more familiar, just a little more puck touches. I mean, it was so much easier to get in the game and such a talented player and playing with Bob, too. Makes makes it so much easier and kind of get in the game and get feeling and feeling good about it. 499 goals for John. What What do you take away from being around him dayto-day and just his process? Yeah, obviously I mean you guys know how dedicated he is to his craft and um his commitment to recovery and just performance. I I really learned and try to take in my own game. How about the physical side? You see Jake, you know, in the fight, he had a hit and he’s kind of all over tonight. How much of a boost does that give you? Oh, it’s huge. I mean, we need that. We need that energy. We need that um you know, grittiness. And you know, he had a big hit and a good fight and he played a great game and um you know, it was good to see him do that do that. It’s very early, Nick, but what did this win mean for the team after a bit of an up and down week. Oh, it’s huge. I mean, like we want to build confidence, right? And uh to get the win there and you know, hopefully we can build our momentum from that. When did you know that you were going to be playing starting the game with Austin? Uh I had an idea before talking to the assistant coach Savvy, but uh not for sure until uh probably 10 minutes before the game. So uh yeah. What what what stands out when you play with him that maybe you don’t see when you’re just watching? Um I mean just his level of confidence. I mean I don’t know. I just I like playing with everyone. I mean, I’m not going to, you know, single guys out, but, you know, he’s obviously unbelievable player. Just make it so much easier out there. So, what what was your mindset coming in? You know, you sit out a game, it hasn’t been dropping. Like, how were you feeling coming into this game? Uh, no different. I mean, it’s not like you guys know it’s not a situation that I’m foreign to. Uh, just got to come in and obviously they played it back toback so I have kind of the energy, kind of have that advantage and and want to come to the game, just play with a lot of energy and fortunately I got that one. Who stands out to you about Primo? Uh, he’s a great guy first off. He’s a a great guy to talk to and be around. Um but yeah, he battled. He got the win there. It wasn’t easy for him and he did play great. Well, Kaden had that feel for you tonight. Yeah, that one felt good. Um to get back in the win column as a team, especially. What’s it like to pick up a win for the Maple Leafs? They showed your dad on the broadcast. Yeah, he was in the house. Uncle, too. Yeah. Um you know, anytime you can win, it feels good. But um you know, with them here, um with this jersey, it’s definitely special. What’s it been like being around John Tar, just seeing how he goes about everything? Yeah. Um, it’s crazy. He uh when we’re on the road, he he brings a big uh extra suitcase of things to make sure that he’s uh you know doing the right things and um when you see a guy like that um who has achieved so much uh it’s motivating. What’s in the suitcase? I don’t know. Um but uh yeah. What’s it mean, Kaden, when a guy like John scores a goal like he did tonight at the end of a week that’s been a little bit up and down for him? Yeah. Um, like I said, anytime you can win, it feels good. But, um, to get back in the win column definitely, um, feels even better. Kate, did you notice an energy boost, if you will, after the Mate fight? I wonder what that might have might have done from your vantage point. Yeah, definitely. Um, it got the crowd going, it got us going. Uh he was great for us tonight and uh definitely fed off of that. What makes Tamar’s shot good? Um just deceptive and uh he uh he he’s been working on that uh shot quite a bit. Uh stayed out with him a couple days um ago uh after practice and um you know he was doing the same stuff. So uh you know he’s just always working on his craft. What makes that shot in particular effective? I don’t know. Um uh like I said, it’s deceptive and um obviously he’s got a great release and uh he’s been doing it for a while and had success. Um and so he uh he knows what he’s doing. How important was your start tonight? Stop the first nine. They were pressing pretty hard. You gave your team a chance to get their feet under? Yeah, it wasn’t pretty, but um after a long time or uh you know, a little while after not playing uh games, it uh you know, you want to see the puck, feel the puck, and uh you know, get moving. You know, uh Joe Wall and all of you said hi. Like what’s it mean to you to have him back kind of? Yeah, two two American goalies. Um so, uh we’ve never played together, but uh yeah, we’ve we’ve seen each other and played against each other a bunch. Um but yeah, it’s just it’s great to have him back. Um I know the guys were really missing him. So, um you know, to have him back is it’s great. Is it not uh I mean like you’re sort of battling for play playing time when he gets up to uh get up to speed. What’s that like for you? Does it change your mindset at all? I’m just uh taking it day by day. Um like I said, feels good to win. Uh especially in this league and uh you know, it’s all you can do. You have a lot more family here tonight. First night I think you said birthday stuff. Yeah, I’ve got a few more. Um, you know, a couple want to get in for the Jays. You going to the G? I’m not. What’ you think of your team’s performance? Yeah, gritty gritty win. Uh, kind of how I look at it, you know. Um, you know, like I said, the difference for me tonight is we were better defending the oddman rushes and things like that. I think we gave up two in the first period. had capitalized on one of them, but we were above things all night and it was, you know, it’s a low event game, but you know, you play teams like that, you got to make sure that you’re not you’re not giving those freebies up and we didn’t do that. And um I thought our guys played hard. You know, I I liked um you know, the jam they played with tonight. Physical, couple nice hits and just a little bit pissed off. Gabe was saying that he’s he wants to see more of that out of himself. Not to fight so much, but just the body in that. Can that apply to the rest of the group? Yeah, for sure. I think we all got to chip in that department, you know. That’s um you know, that’s part of our team. You know, I thought we were a physical, hard for checking team last year and we got to get back to it. Why do you think they were a little ticked off? Lost three in a row. That’s probably why. Yeah. I mean, if I lost three when I was playing, I guarantee I would have gotten two fights. You just would have known the player grown to appreciate the player and the person in the year and a bit you’ve been around. Yeah. And like I tell you guys all the time, I mean, it’s just you don’t really need to coach him. He’s, you know, he’s so professional and um dedicated and, you know, he loves the Leafs. you know, he loves the team and um he just he just comes to work every night. There’s not he doesn’t ever take a night off, doesn’t take a day off like he he’s always just doing his thing, working, highly competitive out there and um you know, it’s just it’s great to you know, be able to coach a guy like that. Robertson goes from healthy scratch to first line scores. Well, yeah, Willie was out so put Robbie up there and Robbie did a good job. I thought he added energy to that line um with his speed and ended up scoring a big goal for us which is great. So he did a good job coming in. Um sorry. What was the tipping point for Willie to not play? Well, I think more um just wasn’t able to do the things that he could do out there, you know, for the most part. I think that was it. I I think I’m hoping he’ll be fine next game. We’ll see. Is he upper or lower? Lower. Katie Primo tonight. Yeah, I was happy for him and um cuz he hadn’t played in a while, you know, but he’s been working hard in practice, like I said to you guys. Hardworking kid. I thought he did a nice job in there tonight. Give us a chance to win the game. Detroit played you tough. these guys played it tough to get the sense this will be a not that you didn’t think it would be a hard division but uh it’s a tough division there’s you know I think we saw Montreal and the centers take a step last year Buffalo’s taking a step for me Detroit’s taking a step uh Florida’s Florida Tampa’s Tampa I mean it’s you know it’s a battle for sure it’s good division very

Players and coach speak with the media following the Leafs’ 4-3 OT victory over the Buffalo Sabres.

00:00 – Jake McCabe
01:49 – John Tavares
04:59 – Nick Robertson
06:59 – Caden Primeau
10:05 – Craig Berube

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